[58] "Here, Jīvaka, a bhikkhu dwells in dependence on a certain village or town. He abides pervading one quarter with a mind (citta) imbued with loving-kindness (mettā), likewise the second, likewise the third, likewise the fourth; so too above, below, across, everywhere, and to all as to himself, he abides pervading the entire world with a mind imbued with loving-kindness — abundant, exalted, immeasurable, without enmity, without ill will. A householder or a householder's son approaches him and invites him for the next day's meal. If he wishes, Jīvaka, the bhikkhu accepts. When that night has passed, in the morning he dresses, takes his bowl and robe, and goes to the residence of that householder or householder's son; having approached, he sits down on the seat prepared. That householder or householder's son serves him with excellent almsfood. It does not occur to him: 'How good indeed that this householder or householder's son serves me with excellent almsfood!' Nor does it occur to him: 'Oh, may this householder or householder's son serve me with such excellent almsfood in the future too!' He eats that almsfood without being tied to it, uninfatuated, not blindly absorbed in it, seeing the danger and understanding the escape. What do you think, Jīvaka — does that bhikkhu on that occasion intend his own affliction, or intend another's affliction, or intend the affliction of both?"
"No indeed, venerable sir."
"Does not that bhikkhu, Jīvaka, on that occasion eat food that is entirely blameless?"
"So it is, venerable sir. Venerable sir, I have heard this: 'Brahmā abides in loving-kindness.' Of that, venerable sir, the Blessed One is the witness I have seen with my own eyes; for the Blessed One, venerable sir, truly abides in loving-kindness."
"Jīvaka, whatever lust (rāga), whatever hatred, whatever delusion there might be on account of which one would have ill will (byāpāda) — that lust, that hatred, that delusion has been abandoned by the Tathāgata, cut off at the root, made like a palm stump, done away with, of a nature not to arise again in the future. If, Jīvaka, it was with reference to this that you spoke, I grant you that."
"It was, venerable sir, precisely with reference to this that I spoke."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.